How Many Syllables In Ruthless?
2syllables
Ruthless has 2 syllables, ruth-less. It is a disyllabic word.
ruthless
/ˈruːθ.ləs/ UK /ˈruːθ.ləs/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, ruth.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CVC
Division By Sound
/ruːθ.ləs/
Division By Letters
ruth-less
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Ruthless
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 primary stress | r | uː | θ | CVC | closed |
| 2 | l | ə | s | CVC | closed |
Why Ruthless Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /l/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˈruːθ.ləs/ | /ˈruːθ.ləs/ | 2 |
| Also | /ˈruːθ.lɪs/ | 2 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in ruthless?
Ruthless has 2 syllables, ruth-less. In British English it is transcribed /ˈruːθ.ləs/.
Which syllable is stressed in ruthless?
The first syllable, ruth, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of ruthless?
Ruthless has the structure CVC/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide ruthless into syllables?
By sound, ruːθ.ləs. By letters, as a spelling guide, ruth-less.